Kinlochleven small hydropower scheme approved in Scotland

A new small hydroelectric project has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government, the government reported.

The 5-MW small hydro development at Loch Eilde Mor, near Kinlochleven, is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power around 2,400 homes and create around 12 jobs during construction.

The government also approved a refurbishment of the existing Innerhadden hydroelectric scheme near Kinloch Rannoch in Perth and Kinross, which will see the installation of two new weirs with self cleaning screens. Its expected capacity of 1.4 MW.

The government's target is to meet the equivalent of 100 percent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020. In 2009, 27 percent of electricity demand came from renewables. There is around 7,000 MW of renewables capacity installed, under construction or consented around Scotland, which will take Scotland beyond the interim target of 31 percent of Scotland's electricity demand from renewables by 2011.

The government has determined 52 energy applications, including approval for 43 new renewable and three non-renewable projects since May 2007. Another 33 applications (24 onshore wind, four hydro and five thermal) are currently being processed.